"Wired to split: How @Meta's algorithms affected the 2020 US presidential election” is how @ScienceMagazine titles its publication of a first round of studies on @facebook's influence on public debate. They’re fascinating - but at the same time, their limitations are clear🧵👇
"Wired to split: How @Meta's algorithms affected the 2020 US presidential election” is how @ScienceMagazine titles its publication of a first round of studies on @facebook's influence on public debate. They’re fascinating - but at the same time, their limitations are clear🧵👇
Researchers have apparently done what they could to make this research as independent, ethical, and prudent as possible. This deserves respect and the results may prove to be a milestone in platform research. But: This research is "Independent by permission” from Meta. 2/6
That’s what Michael Wagner, the project’s independent rapporteur, correctly calls it. Therefore, it's not the way forward if we want to better understand the influence social media giants have on societies in general & public discourse in particular. science.org/doi/full/10.11… 3/6
What we need are clear legal obligations that determine what platforms are required to share, and the resources and political will to enforce them. This is the goal of the EU's Digital Services Act #DSA and its requirements for risk assessment, data sharing, & audits. 4/6